Alresford girl enjoys space themed events after winning competition

Bethany Turner, 12, won the “Awesome Orbit” competition, which asked participants to design an emblem which went on one of the first satellites to launch from the UK in January.

She is returning to Blue Peter on April 21, where she will discuss her experiences after winning the Awesome Orbit competition.

As part of her prize, Bethany visited Airbus’s Mars Yard in Stevenage where she got to control a Mars rover, and went to Spaceport Cornwall to see the UK’s first ever satellite launch in January. She also received a Blue Peter badge to mark her accomplishment.

Bethany Turner with Blue Peter presenter Mwaka Mudenda at the UK's first satellite launch at Spaceport Cornwall (Image: Kirstie Turner)Bethany’s mum, Kirstie, said that winning the prize had a huge impact on her, saying: “It’s been amazing because she actually started it two years ago; because of Covid things have been spread out a little bit. What it’s meant is that every time she’s gone and done each of these amazing experiences she’s grown in confidence and everywhere we’ve been we’ve met these amazing influential individuals, these people who are just like her.

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“She loves programming, and she loves art and she loves space, and she’s always been obsessed about space. And, along the way, she’s met so many fabulous individuals at all these different sites and companies who have spent time with her sharing their passion.”

Kirstie continued: “She’s learnt so much about what she needs to do to make it in a career in space, which is what she wants to do. So she’s joined her STEM club at school and she’s chosen computer studies as one of her options and design and technology, and she’s really aiming to go for triple science next year.”

Bethany Turner (Image: Kirstie Turner)Harshbir Sangha, Missions and Capabilities Director at the UK Space Agency, said: “It’s fantastic to see Bethany has taken so much from her experience of winning the Awesome Orbit competition and enjoyed her time learning more about the UK’s thriving space sector. From getting the chance to control a Mars rover to seeing the first satellite launch from UK soil, Bethany has had an amazing insight into just some of the exciting things going on in the UK and I’m so pleased to hear how it has inspired her.”